Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-08
No Cases Really Cured.
FALSE REPORTS ATE d
ABOUT THE NEW TREATMENT
FOR CONSUMPTION.

fOlS tONSO MIIlONs
PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 81.
This weeks Medical NctcS, to be
issued tomorrow, will state that
recent articles extensively publish
ed throughout the country announ-
eng the cure at the Philadelphia
Hospital of a number of patients
suffering with consumption through
treatment by injections or carbOnic
acid gas and sulphuretted hydro
gen, greatly exaggerated the sue
cess of the treatment. The treat
ment, it says, was first introduced
by Bergeon, of Lyons. In an
editorial article on the subject, the
Medical Ne,cs says:
every many of the statements
which have been spread broadcast
over the country are absolutely
false. So far as we know, there
have beer no cases cUcd, certainly
not at the Philadelphia Hospital,
and even those OF BergeOn's pa.
tients who were most benefited
continued to have slight eSpectora-
tion containing bacili. The results
at the Philadelphia IIospital-in
the limited series Of cases which
have been under treatment-have
been in the reduction OF the fever
and the sweats, the lessenIng of
expectOration and IN the increase
of the weight. These are gains to
be thankful tor, and encourage us
to hope that we may have re-
medal measure Of some value, but
further than this nothing can be
said. Phthisis, as we usually
meet it, is not an acute disease,
and an experience of seven weeks
is far too short a time in which to
form a Judgment of the permanent
benefcent effects of the treatment.
1t will take a year or two at least
to thoroughly test its valne and
meanwhile it is sad to think that so
many poor victims Of this direful
disease will suffer also the delirium
of false hope, aroused by the pre-
mature and unreliable statements
which, unfortunately, have been
given wide currency
The Medical NcicS will also con-
tain an article on the treatment at
the Philadelphia Hospital of pnl-
monary disease by gaseous enc
mate, contributed by Edward T..
Bruen, NJ. d., assistant professor
physical diagnosis University for
PENNSYLVANIA and one Of the physl-
clans to the Philadelphia Hospital.
From DR.. Bruen's article the fol-
lowing abstract is taken
"The twenty-five cases of phthisis
chosen on which to make a trial OF
the gas, included mostly patients
suffering from advanced LESSONS,
nearly all associated with cavities,
marked bronchial catarrh, and
some laryngeal LESSONS. The his
tories of the ca,es under treatment
have shown that the element OF
suppuratlon, as it occurs in the
pulmonary cavities and in the
bronchial passages, has been posi-
lively and promptly antagonized.-
The temperature has been reduced
IN a few days, and within two
weeks has frequently been brought
to a normal point. in grave cases
with advanced pulmonary LESSONS
the temperature has continued to
rise a degree or so above the normal
standard, but during the period OF
treatment, in more than twenty
cases, the temperature chart has
always been positively modified.
"Together with the reduction il
temperature has followed the cessa
ton of night sweats in most in
stances, and in all this symptom
has been markedly lessened. II
cases in which evidences of bron
chial catarrh have been present
= such as rales and copious muco
purulent expectOratiOn, the rale'
have disappeared or have been dc
creased, and in nearly all instance
d the digestive system has been
favOrably affected, the tongue ha
j become clean and natural, the ap
petite has increased, and also tn
y ability to assimilate and appropri
. ate food.
Q "In most cases the gain in weigh
has been progressive and consider
g able, and the nervous symptom
incident to phthisis decidedly il
u huenced for the better and a NOR
.t.oo.c,l 1;c,oc;t;on eoour.J y